Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) has agreed to use Sutro Biopharma’s cell-free protein synthesis technology to produce four different bispecific antibodies discovered by MSKCC for the treatment of neuroblastoma in children.

These antibodies will be directed against CD3 on T-cells and, as the second target, against the ganglioside GD2, which is expressed on the surface of human neuroblastoma cells, as well as in melanoma and osteosarcoma. Nai-Kong V. Cheung, M.D., Ph.D., head of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Neuroblastoma program, will use preclinical models to test the bispecific antibodies manufactured by Sutro.

“We and others have previously shown that the use of an anti-CD3 and anti-GD2 bispecific antibody has a strong scientific rationale, and anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies targeting the ganglioside GD2 have demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials in pediatric neuroblastoma,” Dr. Cheung stated. “We hope that the use of Sutro’s technology will facilitate a more rapid, high-throughput optimization of these bispecific antibodies in the future, and allow us to investigate novel variants of these molecules quickly before bringing the winner to the clinic.”

This isn’t the first time Sutro has collaborated on antibody production. In December 2012, the company inked a deal with Celgene to use its cell-free protein synthesis technology platform to design and develop new antibody drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies for two undisclosed targets. The deal could return Sutro as much as $500 million.

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